Condensing pumping-engine.



- Patented July 8, 1902. F M. LEAVITT. C-ONDENSING PUMPINGENGINE. (Application med une s, 1899.)

2 sheets-sheet (No Model.)

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No. 704,054. Patented July 8, |902.

F. M. LEAVITT.

cuuusnsms PumPma ENGINE.

(Appxiemo med :rung s, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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` WITNESSES;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. LEAVITT, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. W. BLISS COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 704,054, dated J' uly 8, 1902.

Application nea Jungs, i899. serial N0. 719.236. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t nutty concern,.-

Be it known that l, FRANK M. LEAvITT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklymcounty of Kings, city and State of NewYork, have invented certain new andcuseful Improvements in Condensing Pumping-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to condensing or low- 1o pressure pumping-engines, and particularly to atmospheric or vacuum engines.

Atmospheric or vacuum engines are `operatedby atmospheric pressure due to the condensation of the steam, no pressure of steam r 5 in the boiler being necessary, although a minimum pressure of three or four pounds is desirable to cause the steam to circulate. Such engines, because of carrying no boilerpressure, or practically none, are especially zo adapted for use where -no licensed engineer is employed and accordingly find a large field for pumping and small power purposes in domestic establishments, shops, &c.j It is important that an engineadapted for such uses shall be of such construction that no skilled attention is necessary and that it shall not be liable to stoppage or loss of efficiency. For this reason the use of packing should be avoided wherever possible, the parts should 3o be self-oiling, and the operating mechanism should be of vsuch construction that it is not liable to get out of order. By my present invention I seek to produce such an engine, and I especially aim to improve the air-pump con- 3 5 struction, the efficiency of which as an essential element of avacuum-engine is of the utmost importance. I also provide cert-ain improvements in the general construction of the engine, all asinore fully hereinafter set 4o forth.

My invention is in part applicable to condensing or low-pressure engines operating under ordinary conditions.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, of which Figures l to 7, inclusive, show the preferred form of c ngine embodying my invention, Fig. l is avertical section. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical 5o section of the air-pump construction. Fig.

-as shown in Fig. l.

5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5, Fig.v

fl. Fig. G is a similar section on the line 6 6, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 isa vertical section of a detail. Fig. Sis a fragmentary vertical section answering to Fig. 4, but showing a modiiication; and Fig. 9 is a plan of Fig. S.

The engine thus illustrated is a double-acting vacuum-engine having a surface condenser, a single-acting air-pump, said airpump and a double-acting water-pump being 6o arranged in line with the enginecylinder.

I will now proceed to describe the particular and preferred construction shown, it being understood that my present invention is not by any means limited to the use of all the features of this construction.

Inthe construction shown in the drawings the active parts of the engine are mounted upon an upright hollow standard, which, as shown, comprises as its principal parts a base- 7o section A and amain section B, the latter being formed-with a chamber O, in which is 1ocated the condenser of the engine. The upper part of the standard is divided from the chamber O by a wall or partition b and, with its forward'ezgtension a', forms an oil-chamber ct, Within which the rotary shaft D is chiefly located. This shaft rotates in bear ings c c', formed inthe walls of the oil-chambera,andoneendthcreofextendsoutthrough 8o vthe bearing Grand carries the fly-wheel E.

The oil-chamber@ is designed to contain oil, preferably to the level shown, whereby the shaft-bearings and eccentric-bearing are made self-lubricating. An opening is formedv in the lower wallof the extension a, so that the chamber a, can be drained when necessary, and a closure a2 is provided for such opening,

Upon the top of the oilchamber is located the steam-cylinder F and 9o its steam-chest G, the latter being of the usual construction and having the usual slide-valve H, connected to the'eccentric AI on the shaft I) by the strap fand connecting-rod H. The

steam-chest Gis connected to the boiler by a steam-pipe G. The valve Il acts to open and close the'steam-ports e e in the usual manner. The steam-cylinder F is shown as formed with domeshaped upper and lower walls, the piston .I being of dome shape to [oo a cross-head p, which is connected by two rods p to a similar cross-head p2 beneath the cylinder and to which is connected the upper end of the Water-pump rod 16 and of a pair of rods p3 for operating the air-pump.

Tile water-pump Q is double-acting and is shown as constructed with a shell Q', which is preferably cast integrally with the standard. The pump-cylinder 15 is located verticallyin said shell and in line with the pistonrod K. The pump-rod 16 extends ont through a stuffing-box and carries at its lower end the pump piston or plunger 18, which is provided with reversely-cupped packing-rings conned in place in a usual manner. The lower end of the pump-cylinder is closed by a cap 17, by removing which the pump plunger and rod maybe withdrawn. The pump-shell has formed within it the chamber 25, which is located in front of the pump-cylinder 15 and towhichleadsthesuction-pipe26. The usual suction-valves 27 27 control the upper and lower outlets from said chamber 25,which outlet-s lead to the upper and lower passages 28 28. .'lhe discharge-valves 29 29 control the llow from said passages 28 into the condenserchamber C in a usual manner, as best shown in Fig. ,11. The water discharged into the chamber C circulates around the condensertubes, 1o be referred to, for the purpose of cooling such tubes and condensing the exhaust-steam in the usual manner and discharges through the pipe C. This special construction of pump forms no necessary part of my present invention.

Between the base A and standard B arek in which is formed a passage q', (shown inL Fig. 3,) leading to the chamber q. The outer tubes s are closed at their upper ends and communicate at theirlower ends with a chamher'or depression t, formed between the plates M and O. The chamber tis connected to the air-pump.N by a passage t', formed in the base A, to which the air-pump N is suitably fixed.

The construction of the air-pump N is an important feature of my present invention and is designed to avoid the disadvantages of those now in use. As before stated, engines of this class are particularly designed for use Vby persons having no engineering knowledge, and they are largely used in 1ocalities where it would be difficult to procure skilled attention. Astheiroperationdepends upon atmospheric pressure, due to the condensation of steam, the air-pump forms a very important part of their construction. By reason of the character of their use it is desirable to avoid packings wherever possible, because of their friction, their liability to become worn, and the necessity of skilful attention to preservetheir efficiency, such as the average user is unable or unwilling to give. By this invention I dispense with all packing for the air-pump and avoid the necessity of attention of any kind on the part of the user. air-pump plunger in water, so that it works without danger of leakage inward of air. I also do away with the use of puppet-valves, which must be closely fitted to their seats and which are open to the objection that dust and grit often lodge on their seats, and thus cause leakage. of these features of my invention is best shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6. The pumpcylinder N is here shown as inclosed in a water-chamber W, formed by fastening an open-topped shell to an extension A', forming part of the base A. The pump-cylinder N is fastened to t-he extension A within said shell and is provided with a passage n, Fig.

5, which leads from the passage t' around` said cylinder to its front, where it communicates by a port n. with the water-chamber W. Below the passage n the cylinder is formed with a lateral passage or port o, communieating also with the chamber W, as shown. At its upper end said cylinder is also formed with an annular internal groove or passage fm, which is'in free communication with the interior of the chamber W by lneans of the radial passages m. V is a slide-valve working over the ports n and o and acting alternately to open communication between ythe pump-cylinder and condenser and the cylin' The preferred construction IOT) IIO

der and chamber W. As shown in the drawings the pump-plunger is beginning its downstroke and the valve V is stationary in its upper position, closing communicationwith the condenser and allowing llow from the cylinder through port o to the Water-chamber W. At the completion of the downward -vfrom this eccentric to the slide-valve V. I

V' is shown as mounted in bearings formed Y on the condenser-tube plate M. I adopt this connecting mechanism by preference,because it enables me to mount the eccentric x on shaft D outside of the oil-chamber a and between this chamber and the iiy-wheel E, on the hub of which wheel the eccentric may be integrally formed, as shown.

The air-pump plunger N2 is an ordinary bucket-plunger and fits easily into the cylinder N. According to my invention the water-chamber YV is designed to be filled with water up 'to the level y, Fig. 4, and the-airpump is hence immersed in the water so contained in the chamber. At the first operation of the engine the chamber WV should be filled with water to allow of the initial action of the air-pump; but thereafter the liquid seal is maintained by the pump itself, the chamber receiving its entire discharge. The air discharged will rise to the top and pass off and the water of condensation will remain in the water-chamber to the level y. The water finds a free communication with the upper part of the plunger N2 through the radial passages m to the internal groove m, and the plunger thereby works through this liquid seal, which effectually prevents any leakage of air downwardly around the plunger. Some water will leak into the cylinder; but even a comparatively large quantity of such leakage will be of no consequence, as the air-pump is of such large capacity that it can easily dispose of it. Any considerable leakage of air would, however, overtax the pump and destroy the Vacuum. In the described construction the use of packing is avoided, which is an important advantage in engines of this character. The use of a slide-valve also has the advantage that if any particles of grit work onto its seat they are forced o by the movement of the valve, and hence do not give rise to leakage. The water overflowing from the chamber W falls into a chamber A2, formed in the base A, from which it may run o into channel 19,whence it may be led by a pipe to any suitable waste. The air-pump is mounted in line with the steam-cylinder and receives its movement directly from the steam-piston. The plunger N2 is formed with a cross-head N3, which is connected to the cross-head p2 of the water-pump by the connecting-rods p3.

In Fig. '7 I Vhave shown an enlarged view of the preferred form of the eccentric-rod w. A small quantity of oil will leak through'the bearing c of the shaft D and lubricate the eccentric-strap fr, the surplus being caught in a basin a?, formed ou the upper part of the rod w. This rod is tubular and the surplus of oil passes down through its bore to lubricate the pivotal connection between the rod fw and the lever w. veniently formed in the base A beneath the rod w' to catch any oil dripping from said rod.

It will be seen that my present form of engine resembles in many respects the steam pumping-engine set forth in my application,

Serial No. 703,773, IiledJanuary 80, 1899, pat-` ented December 18, 1900,No. 663, 910. That application shows the same general construction of hollow standard with condenser-chamber withinit and oilchamberaabove,in which works the shaft D and above which chamber is located the steam-cylinder. In that application I have described a means for preventing air from being drawn into the cylinder around the piston-rod during the suctionstroke in lieu of the piston-rod packing commonly employed. To this end I form a chamber h in the cylinder-head, this chamber being in open communication with the pistonrod and being in constant communication with the steam-chest G or other source of steam by means of an open duct-as, for eX- ample, by a passagej. During the exhaust or power stroke, when the pressure in the cylinder is considerably lower than that of the outer air, any leakage occurring into the cylinder will be of steam from the chamber 71,.

In my former construction I carried the piston-rod K down through the bottom of the oil-chamber a, the bottom opening therein being provided with a stuffing-box, through which the piston-rod passed. I now avoid this stuffing-box and its attendant friction and liability to leakage by passing the pistonrod K out through the top of the cylinderand connecting its upper end with the pump through the medium of the cross-heads p p2 and connecting-rods p p', already described. In so doing I prevent leakage of air into the cylinder around the piston-rod where it passes out through the top of the cylinder by applying the same means heretofore applied by me, as above described and as set forth andV claimed in my said application, Patent No. 663,910-that is to say, I provide a steamchamber surrounding the piston-rod between the cylinder and the outerair, this chamber being shown at h and being connected by a passage j with the steam-chest G or vother source of steam. I thus substitute for the stuffing-box before used a connection which is almost absolutely free from friction and at the same time avoid any liability of leakage of air into the cylinder.

A receptacle z is con- IOC) IIO

I have shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a modificai is connected Ito the condenser by a suction- The pump passage t', as before described, communicating with a passage n around the pump-cylinder, terminating in a port n in connection with the slide-Valve V, as before described, the only dierence in construction being that the discharge-port o is here duplicated by rearon of the pump being double-acting, and the slide-Valve is made sufficiently long to coact with the two ports o o. ber or cylinder W, instead of entirely sur- Y rounding the pump-cylinder, or nearly so, is

onlylarge enough to inclose the slide-Valve V, this portion vthereof being vertical and conducting the discharge from the pump over the top thereof to an overioW-level y, so that the Water surrounds the plunger or piston-rod 3l Where the latter emerges from the top of the pump-cylinder, and thereby forms a Water seal or Water packing for the plunger to the same effect as in the construction first described.

I claim as my invention the following-defined novel features, substantially as hereinbefore specified, namely:

1. In acondensing-engine, an air-pump having a discharge-port, asuction-passage terminating adjacent to said port, a slide-valve adapted to connect said discharge-port with said suction-passage, whereby to place the latter in communication with the pump-cylinder, and adapted to open said dischargeport to permit discharge from said cylinder, and a Water-chamber inclosing said valve and The water cham-' receiving the discharge from said cylinder, whereby the Water discharged from said cylinder forms a seal for said Valve.

2. In a condensing s engine, a standard, formed with an exhaust-passage, a pump-cylinder tting said standard and formed with a continuation ot' said passage, and a Waterchamber surrounding said cylinder and sealing the joint between said passages.

3.7In a condensing-engine, an air-pump cylinder having an annular internalwatergroove against its plunger, and a water-cham- 'ber surrounding said cylinder and in com- FRANK M. LEAvrTr.

Witnesses:

M. -ARoNsoN, W. B. BAILEY. 

